Fiat - 500 Topolino - 1949
16
days
02
hours
29
minutes
19
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Arjan Rietveld
Thirty years' experience with classic cars, specialising in Italian cars and Porsche.
Estimate € 100,000 - € 110,000
9 other people are watching this object
 | €1 |
|---|
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 133362 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Fiat Maestri 500 Topolino from 1949, located in Northern Italy, with 4000 km, manual transmission, petrol, red, 20 hp, matching numbers and colours, Italian registration papers, CoC present, service history, valid MOT, and mechanically excellent with very good paint, body, interior and undercarriage.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
PANORAMA/CONDITIONS
In 1939, Enrico Maestri was commissioned by the famous driver Paolo Butti to build a car to compete in the Mille Miglia in the lower category of 749 cc.
The car was designed and built at the Via Roma factory in Piacenza.
Inspired by Alfa Romeo, Enrico Maestri designed and built the first aerodynamic coupe based on Fiat 500 Topolino A’s long leaf-sprung chassis.
With a body made of aluminum lighter by 10% and an improved mechanicals, Maestri boasted superior performance. However, the poor weight distribution compromised its handling, making it more suitable as a touring car.
Unfortunately the project remained pending until the outbreak of the war.
Completed in 1945.
The engine has a displacement of 569, a side-valve configuration and a maximum power of 20 horsepower (compared to 13 horsepower of the standard version).
The car body is aluminum.
He drove it in the first Mille Miglia, held on May 11, 1947 at the Piacenza Municipal Circuit. Ferrari participated in the race for the first time, driven by Count Franco Cortese, and also participated Elio Zagato, Nuccio Bertone and Fissore.
Muse of the Mille Miglia of 1948,
He participated in the Mille Miglia of 1949 with Guarnaschelli and his co-driver.
It could not have had more success.
It was approved in 1949.
Maestri’s work consisted of two closed berlinettas and four open boats.
In July 1951 Fiat Maestri Berlinetta was sold to Carlo Luigi Giglio.
He lived in the Ivrea district of Turin, so the car never lost its original plates.
It was later sold to Mario Bemmer of Florence.
Restoration work lasted 18 months.
At the time of purchase, the car was equipped with square fog lights, but it is unlikely they were part of the original equipment.
Over the years, the Fiat Maestri, fully restored, has taken part in numerous historic events.
Car purchased by the current owner in January 2022 in Brescia, Italy.
Before that, it had the following owners:
1. Paolo B. (1938-)
2. Carlo Luigi G. (Ivrea painter, Turin) July 1951
3. Swap Show owner (around 1980)
4. M. Bemer (Florence) 1994. The year in which the bodywork, engine and everything else were restored.
Sent to Japan in 2023 where it was cleaned up, repainted and repaired from some scratches.
In 2024 it returned to Italy, with the last revision dating to February 2025.
The car has the Japanese FIVA certification.
Today it presents itself in splendid condition.
DOCUMENTATION
With Italian documents.
Italian FIAT Register
Japanese FIVA certification
Vehicle visible in Bergamo, Italy.
PANORAMA/CONDITIONS
In 1939, Enrico Maestri was commissioned by the famous driver Paolo Butti to build a car to compete in the Mille Miglia in the lower category of 749 cc.
The car was designed and built at the Via Roma factory in Piacenza.
Inspired by Alfa Romeo, Enrico Maestri designed and built the first aerodynamic coupe based on Fiat 500 Topolino A’s long leaf-sprung chassis.
With a body made of aluminum lighter by 10% and an improved mechanicals, Maestri boasted superior performance. However, the poor weight distribution compromised its handling, making it more suitable as a touring car.
Unfortunately the project remained pending until the outbreak of the war.
Completed in 1945.
The engine has a displacement of 569, a side-valve configuration and a maximum power of 20 horsepower (compared to 13 horsepower of the standard version).
The car body is aluminum.
He drove it in the first Mille Miglia, held on May 11, 1947 at the Piacenza Municipal Circuit. Ferrari participated in the race for the first time, driven by Count Franco Cortese, and also participated Elio Zagato, Nuccio Bertone and Fissore.
Muse of the Mille Miglia of 1948,
He participated in the Mille Miglia of 1949 with Guarnaschelli and his co-driver.
It could not have had more success.
It was approved in 1949.
Maestri’s work consisted of two closed berlinettas and four open boats.
In July 1951 Fiat Maestri Berlinetta was sold to Carlo Luigi Giglio.
He lived in the Ivrea district of Turin, so the car never lost its original plates.
It was later sold to Mario Bemmer of Florence.
Restoration work lasted 18 months.
At the time of purchase, the car was equipped with square fog lights, but it is unlikely they were part of the original equipment.
Over the years, the Fiat Maestri, fully restored, has taken part in numerous historic events.
Car purchased by the current owner in January 2022 in Brescia, Italy.
Before that, it had the following owners:
1. Paolo B. (1938-)
2. Carlo Luigi G. (Ivrea painter, Turin) July 1951
3. Swap Show owner (around 1980)
4. M. Bemer (Florence) 1994. The year in which the bodywork, engine and everything else were restored.
Sent to Japan in 2023 where it was cleaned up, repainted and repaired from some scratches.
In 2024 it returned to Italy, with the last revision dating to February 2025.
The car has the Japanese FIVA certification.
Today it presents itself in splendid condition.
DOCUMENTATION
With Italian documents.
Italian FIAT Register
Japanese FIVA certification
Vehicle visible in Bergamo, Italy.
Details
Brand
Fiat
Model type
500 Topolino
Year
1949
Located in
Italy (North)
Mileage reading
4000 km
Registration papers
with Italian registration
Transmission
Manual
Fuel
Petrol
Colour
Red
Horse power
20
Cubic capacity
569
Matching numbers
Yes
Matching colours
Yes
Service book/history
Yes
Valid MOT
Yes
CoC (Certificate of Conformity) present
Yes
Certificate available
No
Condition (Paint & body)
Very Good: minor chips or scratches, minor conventional body and paintwork
Condition (Interior)
Very Good: clean, showing minimal wear. May require replacement of minor missing or broken parts
Condition (Frame & underbody)
Very Good: frame/structure is in a well preserved condition, minor signs of usage/wear
Condition (Mechanical)
Excellent: mechanically sound, no work to be done, no leaks, no service needed
Condition (Overall)
Very good condition: minimal signs of wear
Vehicle registration
Buyers are responsible for vehicle's registration, not the seller or Catawiki.
Request help with registration from a third-party service provider.Sold by
Disclaimer
Catawiki always aims to offer you the best possible buying experience. Our experts virtually review and select every vehicle in line with our submission guidelines and we require our sellers to provide the most accurate description of the vehicle. However, providing a fully detailed analysis of the vehicle is extremely difficult, and close to impossible. To guide you, we ask our sellers to provide information about the vehicle’s condition. Please consider that most vehicles for sale are classic vehicles and they often already have a whole life behind them, meaning that even a condition 1 or 2 vehicle might need maintenance to be ready for the road. It is advised to carefully read our submission guidelines that further describe details about the condition grades and types to manage your expectations. Cars are sold “as is”, meaning as described and in the condition they are in at the time of the sale and without any representation, warranty or assumption of liability of any kind as to the condition by Catawiki or by the seller. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from yours, your local garage, or the dealer’s opinion. This does not automatically mean the car does not conform to its description. Before bidding, please check your local legislation regarding vehicle registration. Neither the seller nor Catawiki is responsible for the registration of the vehicle in your country and will not accept a cancellation for your failure to register the vehicle. We also recommend that, if possible, you arrange a viewing with the seller before placing a bid.
Catawiki always aims to offer you the best possible buying experience. Our experts virtually review and select every vehicle in line with our submission guidelines and we require our sellers to provide the most accurate description of the vehicle. However, providing a fully detailed analysis of the vehicle is extremely difficult, and close to impossible. To guide you, we ask our sellers to provide information about the vehicle’s condition. Please consider that most vehicles for sale are classic vehicles and they often already have a whole life behind them, meaning that even a condition 1 or 2 vehicle might need maintenance to be ready for the road. It is advised to carefully read our submission guidelines that further describe details about the condition grades and types to manage your expectations. Cars are sold “as is”, meaning as described and in the condition they are in at the time of the sale and without any representation, warranty or assumption of liability of any kind as to the condition by Catawiki or by the seller. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from yours, your local garage, or the dealer’s opinion. This does not automatically mean the car does not conform to its description. Before bidding, please check your local legislation regarding vehicle registration. Neither the seller nor Catawiki is responsible for the registration of the vehicle in your country and will not accept a cancellation for your failure to register the vehicle. We also recommend that, if possible, you arrange a viewing with the seller before placing a bid.
